Apparatus for feeding solutions



March 7, 1933. c. F. WALLACE L v APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SOLUTIONS FiledMay 51, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 MSW 14W arch 1933. c, F. WALLACE L QQAPPARATUS FOR FEEDING SOLUTIONS v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 51, 1928vfi March 7, 1933. c, F. WALLACE APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SOLUTIONS 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1928 avwemtoz w 7' 1 MW Fatentecl 7, 1933carats aaaiaa CHARLES E. WALLACE, OF WESTFIELID, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOWALLACE & TIER- .NAN PRODUCTS, INC., OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF NEW APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SOLUTIONS Application fiieaua31, 1928. SeriaLNo. 282,005.

This invention relates to'solution-feeding devices and has for one ofits most important objects the provision of an apparatus which will feeda solution atauniform rate over a comparatively long time interval.

Another object is to provide a solutionfeeding apparatus in which therate of feed can be regulated, after which the new rate will beuniformly maintained during a defi nite time interval.

Still another object is to provide a solution feeding mechanism which,in addition to the advantages already stated, is simple and accurate andwhich will require a minimum amount of attention.

In the present embodiment of the invention the solution is supplied toacontainer of suflicient capacity to hold enough solution to serve itsintended purpose during a certain length of time. Associated with thiscontainer is a weight which is lowered at a predetermined rate relativeto the container and which, by its'movement, controls the flow of thesolution from thecontainer to the point of its application.

In the embodiment scribed, the weight is lowered by'a novel clockmechanism and may either displace the solution by its own mass so as tocause the solution to flow from an outlet of the conapparatus, includingthe escapement, and

tainer, or itmay change the position of an outlet of the containerduringits descent so that the flow will correspond to the movement;

of the weight. In the latter event the outlet may be a part of aflexible connection to the i bottom of the container or it may bepart'of a siphon which is lowered relative to the container by thedownward movement of the weight.

. While a clock mechanism has advantages in regulating flow according totime intervals,

it is, as will be clear later on, possible to use a motor for loweringthe weight controlling the feed. It is also possible, as will beapparent later on, to use the weight to control the operation of anaspirator or other suction device to draw the solution from thecontainer instead of, as in the present embodiment, de-

pending upon displacement or gravity action at the outletto cause theflow. Such a motor and described in an application Serial No. A

282,006, filed the 31st'day of May, 1928, by

the present applicant. All claims to subject matter common to thepresent application and said application No. 282,006 are made herein.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists ina novel construction and association of parts hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification; and the novel features of which are'pointed out in saidspecification and drawings and in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawingst Fig. 1 is a section through the clock mech-- anism anddevices for regulating the lowering of the weight as well as the devicesfor raising the weight and incidentally winding the clock.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the winding head and weight reel, the connectionbetween them and the clock mechanism, and a device by which ,theconnection may be disabled. herein shown and de- Fig. 3 is a detail,along the line 33 of Fig. 1, of the mechanism for stopping the clockwhenever desired.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the clock mechanism and shows particularly thependulum ulator, with parts in section to show the wayin which thependulum is supported.

Fig. 6 is a view, along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, of the escapement andpendulum mechanism.

Figs. 7, 8 and. 9 show various ways in which the clock weight controlsor causes the solution to flow from a container toward a point ofapplication.

Figs. 10 and 11 are details showing the construction of devices forsupporting the pendulum. v

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a casing 10 supported inan suitable way as by a pedestal 11 mounts on a base 12. What may, forconvenience, be

called the back of the casing, is in the form of plate 13 (Fig. 1) uponwhich the clock mechanism is supported, said plate being secured to thebody of the casing by any suitable means such as, for example, screws14. The plate 13 has an opening 15 normally closed by a weighted door 16having ears 17 carrying pivot pins 18 extending into inclined slots 19in cars or ribs 20 on the plate 13. A felt ring 21 attached to the plate13 makes'the closure dust proof. The weight 22 on the door 16 and thepin and inclined slot connection 18 and 19 insure holding the door 16 infully closed position. The door 16 is, of course, to provide convenientaccess to the clock mechanism, as for example, when it is desired tochange the regulator above meiltioned and hereinafter described in detaiThe clock mechanism is supported on the plate 13 by four posts 26 (Figs.1 and 4) secured to the plate by screws 27. The upper posts 26 havereduced and threaded ends (not shown) passing through one plate 28 ofthe clock mechanism and cooperating with nuts 29 to hold the plate inposition. The lower posts 26 have reduced and threaded portions 30extending through the plate 28 and engaging a threaded interior in theseparator or support studs 31. The other ends of the studs 31 have theusual reduced and threaded ends equipped with nuts 32 holding the otherplate or frame member 33 of the clock.

At their upper ends the plates 28 and 33 are held together in correctrelative position by the separator rods 34 of the usual type.

Journaled in the plates 28 and 33 is a shaft 38 to which is pinned. asat 39. the hub of a large gear 40, the shaft carrying also a spacingcollar 41 which may, if desired, be integral with the gear. Meshing withthe gear is a pinion 42 rigid with a larger gear 43, the gear 43 meshingin turn with a lantern gear 44 attached to a gear 45. The gear 45 mesheswith, a lantern gear 46 attached to the same arbor or shaft as a gear 47meshing with a lantern gear 48 rigid with a'gear 49. The gear 49 engagesa small lantern gear 50 (see also Fig. 6) fastened to a'shaft 51journaled in the plates 28 and 33 and in a bracket 52. Rigid with theshaft 51 are two rods 53 and 54 at right angles one to the other andforming what are, in efiect, two pairs of pins, spaced apart as shownand forming a part of the escapement mechanism. 1

The motive power for driving the gear 40 and, through the intermediateconnections described, the escapement shaft 51, is applied to the shaft38. For this purpose the shaft 38 has a cross-pin 61 held by a set screw62 and engaging in slpts in the end of a rod 63 which is axiallyrecessed to receive the end of the shaft 38., At its other end the rod63 is recessed and slotted to receive the! end of a shaft 64 and engagethe ends of a cross-pin rename 65 held in position in the shaft by a setscrew 66.

The shaft 64 is surrounded by a sleeve 67 closely fitting in a tubularrecess through a. head 68 on an extension 69 from the casing 10. Thesleeve 67 is preferably slightly larger in diameter than the shaft 64except near one end where (as shownat 691) it surrounds the shaftclosely enough to give the shaft a good bearing. This construction ofthe sleeve reduces materially frictional resistance to rotations of theshaft64. A set screw 70 serves to lock the sleeve 67 in position. v

Rotatively mounted on the sleeve 67 is a member 74 comprising a groovedreel 75 and a substantially circular portion 76 provided with knobs orprojections 77 to facilitate turning the member 74 by hand. One face ofthe portion 76 of the member 74 is recessed or hollowed out, as at 78,and is also cut away to accommodate a friction disk or washer at the endof the sleeve 67. The face of the recess 78 is closed by a disk or plate79 attached to the member 74 and forming a hearing support for the shaft64.

Fastened to the shaft 64 is a toothed ratchet disk 83 which cooperateswith a spring pressed pawl 84 pivoted on a short rod or pin 85 supportedbetween the portion 76 and the plate 79. The construction is such thatwhen the'member 75, 76, 77 is turned clockwise (Fig. 2) the pawl 84 willserve to retain the member against return movement. This clockwisemovement will wind up on the reel 75 a cord or wire 86 (Figs. 7, 8 and9) sustaining the weight 87. After such winding the weight causes thepawl 84 to drive the ratchet disk 83, the shaft 64, rod 63, shaft 38,gear 40 and the rest of the train of mechanism extending toand'including the 'escapement arbor or shaft 51.

In order to permit disconnecting the pawl 84 from the ratchet disk 83when desired, a plunger 91 mounted in a boss 92 on the member 76 may bemoved against the compression of a spring 93 against a tail or extensionof the pawl to rock the nose or point of the pawl out of the teeth ofthe ratchet disk. This plunger is provided to permit lowering the weightindependently of the clock mechanism whenever desired.

In order to arrest the downward movement of theweight, for example,during the period when no feed of the solution is desired or whenreplenishing the supply of solution, the

head 68 has an arm or extension 95 carrying a thumbscrew 96 which can beturned to engage in one or more cuts 97 in the member 76 or which can beclamped against the periphery of the member.

The rate of downward movement of the weight 87 and the speed of themechanism driven by it, is regulated by a pendulum mechanism cooperatingwith the escapement rods or pins 53 and 54 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) on mommathe escapement shaft 51. The pendulum mechanism referred to comprises amounting member or bracket 101 secured by screws 102 (Fig. 4) to theplate 28 of the clock mechanism, with its ends at right angles to thelength of the bracket to form arms 103 and 104 on which the pendulum issupported. The arms 103 and 104 are out out at their upper surfaces (seeFigs. and 11) to accommo- 10 date bearings 106 and 107 supported onpivots 108. The upper face of each of the pivoted'bearings has a wideV-shaped notch to receive knife edges 109 and 110 on the pendulum. Thependulum is describedin detail further on and it is sufficient to sayhere that the knife edges 109 on the pendulum and the pivoted bearingsupports therefor -give a selfaligning construction contributing to reatfreedom and accuracy of movement 0 the pendulum; i

The pendulum comprises a bar 115 having upwardly extending arms 116, 117and 118 and a boss 119. The knife edges 109 previously mentioned are onpins 121 inserted in suitable holes in the arms 116 and 118 and held inadjusted position by means of set screws 122. I

Mountedin the arm 117 of thependulum is a rod 124 secured in adjustedposition by a set screw 125. The protruding ends of the rod 124, are cutto form cams 126 and 127 cooperating respectively with the escapementrods or pins 53 and 54. The cams 126 and 127 are so disposed in thepaths of the pins P The pm 146 is preferably inserted through that when,for instance, oneof the pins 53 (Fig. 6) engages the cam 126 thependulum 115 wil be swung counterclockwise and movement of the pendulumin the opposite direction will be effected when one of the pins 54strikes the cam 127. It will be recalled that the escapement shaft 51 isdriven by the weight 87. At each quarter turn of theshaft 51. of theescapement mechanism the movement of the shaft is halted until thepressure applied by the engaging pin 53 or 54 has tilted the pendulum topermit the weight to drive the next pin into engagemen with its cam.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings one of the pins 53 is shown inengagement with its cam at the point where the pin and cam havecooperated to bring the pendulum to a vertv' cal position. When the pinfirst engaged the cam, however, the tapered side of the pin engaged theedge of the cam to initiate the rockingv movement, after which the endof the pin wipes across the upper face of the cam to swing the pendulumpast center.

Secured to the bar 115 of the pendulum,

by screws 131, is a segmental index plate 132.

An arm 133 is pivoted, on a screw 134, .be-

tween the index plate 132 and the boss 119 on the pendulum bar 115, thescrew entering a threaded hole in the boss and serving through a collar135 to frictionally hold the arm 133 in diflerent positions ofadjustment. Near its outer end the arm 133 carries a pointer 137cooperating with the index plate 132, while on a threaded extension ofthe arm is a weight 138.

Extending from the lower face of'the penlum, and thereby the rate ofdescent of the weight 87, through quite a wide range. The constructionshown is capable of adjustment or regulation by' means of 138 and 142 sothat from twenty hours to eight days may be used for feeding a givenquantity of solution, the twenty hour rate obtaining when the pointer137 is at or sli htly above B on the scale 132, and the eight day ratewhen the pointer is at the figure 8 on the scale.

While the pendulum as shown has the pendulum set above the pivot points,it is equally feasible to use a ndulum which swings below the pivotpoints.

In addition to the provision of the set screw 96 (Fig. 1) for holdingthe winding head against movement by the wei ht 87, means areprovidedfor stopping the ock by stopping the oscillations of the pendulum. Thismeans comprises a shaft 145 (Figs. 1 and 3) ournaled in the wall of thecasing10 and carrying a pin (146 extending up to a oint adjacent the bar115 of thependulum.

a hole in the shaft 145 and held in adjustment by a screw 147 in the endof the shaft. Attached to the outerend of the shaft 145 is a knurledknob 148 by means of which the shaft 145 may be rocked to carry the pin146 against and away from thependulum to' stop and release the pendulum;A collar 149 and washer 150 are held in position on the shaft 145 by aset screw 151, the'collar and knob 148 cooperating to prevent endwisemovement of the shaft 145 and to hold a given setting by friction.-

It is important that the pendulum be level to insure accuracy ofoperation even though the clock mechanism may not set true, and to makethe leveling convenient a plumb mechanism is supplied. This mechanismcomprises a metal strip or plate 155 (Figs. 1 and 4) carrying at itsupper end a rod 156 carrying a flange 157 which is clamped against theplate 155 by a nut 158 on a threaded end of the rod. It is preferred toslot the rod across the other end to hold a plumb line 161 supporting aweight or plumb bob 162. Near the lower end of the plate 155 is apointer 163 which, in connection with the plumb line, affords a means ofascertaining when the pendulum is level.

The plate 155 carrying the plumb mechm-o anism is fastened by one ormore screws or by solder to the mounting bracket or plate solution. Nearthe top of the container is an outlet 166. As the weight 87 is loweredin the container the solution is displaced and a uniform flow at theoutlet 166 maintained until substantially all of the solution has leftthe container. The Winding reel is then turned as previously describedto raise the weight clear of the container and the container refilled ora full container placed in proper position under the weight. The windinghead is then released by disengaging the pawl 84 Fig. 2) from theratchet disk 83 and the win ing head allowed to turn independently ofthe clock mechanism far enough to cause the weight 87 to start the flowof solution.

- In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the weight supports anoutlet 167 for the solution. The outlet device is connected by means ofa flexible tube 168 to a valved member 169 entering the lower part ofthe container 170. As the weight 87 is lowered by the clock mechanismthe outlet 167 is carried along, thereby causing the solution to flowfrom the container through the outlet. When the container is to berefilled the winding head is turned to raise the outlet 167 and thevalve 169 closed. After the container is full, the valve 169 is openedand the weight 87 and outlet 167 lowered independently of the clockmechanism, as before described, until the solution begins to fiow fromthe outlet. The pawl 84: is then allowed to re-engage the clock driveratchet 83 and thereafter the downward movement of the weight 87 andoutlet 167 is as controlled by the pendulum and escapement mechanism.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 9 is adapted particularlyfor feeding concentrated solutions of acids. It includes the idea ofusing the weight 87 to lower a siphon 173 to draw the solution from thecontainer 174:. Any suitable way of attaching the siphon to the weightmay be employed.

' The upper part of the siphon carries a suction valve or air vent 175for use in filling or starting the siphon and a valve 176 in thedelivery side which may be closed if the siphon is started by suctionapplied at the valve 175. The delivery side of the siphon is alsoformed, as at 177, to form an air seal preventing air from enteringwhile the siphon is in operation. After the siphon is started rename itsoperation is maintained as the weight lowers it relative to thecontainer.

From all of the foregoing it is obvious that the apparatus shown anddescribed is capable of maintaining a uniform feed or flow of solutionduring a time interval, and that the rate of flow can. be changedaccording to the amount required during such interval. The devices forreceiving the flow and conducting it to the point of application may bevaried according to requirements and form no part of the presentinvention.

llt is also obvious that the descent of the weight to cause the flowmight be controlled by a motor geared to the winding head in such a wayas to permit a slow descent of the weight, and that this motor mighthave a governor whereby the rate of the feed could be changed. Such asubstitute for the clock mechanism is contemplated by the presentinvention, although the clock mechanism is preferred.

While the apparatus shown and described is admirably adaptedto fulfillthe purposes primarily stated, the invention is capable of variousembodiments, with suitable modifications and changes, all coming withinthe scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is: y

1. An apparatus for feeding solutions comprising a clock gear train, aweight connected to drive the gear train by the gravitational movementof the weight, a container for solu tion into which the weightdescendsto displace solution from the container, and a pendulum and escapementmechanism for the gear train controlling the descent of the weight anddisplacement of the solution.

2. An apparatus for feeding solutions comprising a clock gear train, aweight connected to drive the gear train by the gravitational movementof the weight, a container for the solution into which the weightdescends to displace solution from the container, an

escapement forthe gear train comprising a pendulum, and means comprisinga counterbalance fortlre pendulum adjustable to vary the totalgravitational movement of the weight over a range from twenty hours toeight days depending upon the rate of flow of the solution desired.

In testimony whereof ll hereto afiix my signature.

CHARLES F. WALLACE;

lllltl)

